Three Republicans face off Saturday for a chance to run for the House of Delegates seat vacated by Terrie Suit.
Former Oceana Naval Air Station commanding officer Tom Keeley, Beach planning commissioner and hog farmer Barry Knight, and Virginia Beach Sheriff Paul Lanteigne are seeking the GOP nomination.
The canvass for the 81st District - essentially a Republican primary - will decide which GOP candidate appears on the ballot for the Jan. 6 special election. And it may, in effect, determine who gets the seat, because the 81st has been a stronghold for Republicans.
Suit resigned in October to accept a lobbying job. The 81st District includes the southern parts of Virginia Beach and Chesapeake.
Because voter turnout for canvasses is typically low, the candidates are running quiet grass-roots campaigns aimed at getting supporters to the polls over the holiday weekend.
Democrats have yet to put forward a candidate. Independent Jeff Dente, a real estate agent, also will be on the January ballot.
Keeley, 54, said protecting the region's military installations would be his priority.
"At Oceana, I got a really good perspective of Hampton Roads and the state, and I came to understand the military organizations are kind of taken for granted," he said. "The installations can't protect themselves. Encroachment is a huge issue."
He said the bases should be viewed as a "business or economic incubator" and could be better used to attract private- sector technology companies.
A former Navy pilot, Keeley was commander at Oceana from 2003 to 2005. He works at a computer modeling and simulation company specializing in homeland security and school safety issues.
He said the government can't solve every problem, citing traffic congestion. He suggested staggering work times at military bases to help reduce traffic.
Knight, 54, making his first run for public office, said it's important to preserve the rural heritage of the district and touted his experience as a businessman. He owns a 210-acre hog farm that straddles Virginia Beach and Chesapeake and leases out other properties to crop farmers.
"I'm not a career bureaucrat who spends the taxpayers' money," he said. "I understand the free enterprise system. The economic engine that drives this state and country is small businesses."
Knight said he opposes extending sewer and water services into rural areas.
"We have a rural heritage," he said. "I do not see a need for any capital improvements."
Knight has several properties in the city's agricultural conservation program, which he said shows his commitment to protecting farmlands from development.
He touted his endorsements, which include Suit, U.S. Rep. Thelma Drake, Del. Bob Purkey and Shirley Forbes, wife of U.S. Rep. Randy Forbes.
Lanteigne, 55, a former City Council and School Board member, said his big issue is ending what he called "secret voting" in the General Assembly.
Lawmakers sometimes use unrecorded subcommittee votes to kill bills. The practice lets legislators squash proposed laws without tying their names to the action. For example, the proposed restaurant smoking ban and redistricting commission was defeated that way this year by Republican-controlled subcommittees.
"If the Democrats were doing it, we'd be up in arms," Lanteigne said. "It doesn't make it right because Republicans are doing it."
He added that the state budget crunch will force lawmakers to think differently about the role of government, calling it an "opportunity" to make changes.
"We have to get back to core services," he said. "We may not be able to do all things, for all people, all the time."
Saturday's canvass is open to all registered voters in the 81st District. It runs from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at three polling places.
Aaron Applegate, (757) 222-5122, aaron.applegate@pilotonline.com
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Elect Barry Knight
I am a proud supporter of Barry Knight. Please come out and elect Barry Knight for the vacant seat in the House of Delegates on Saturday, November 29th. He is dedicated businessman and his valued work ethic is crucial to this volatile economy. He pays it forward in the community, and he is exactly what the 81st district needs.
Tom was supporting us
Watch Dog,
Tom Keeley was supporting us at City Council. He was never one to say that our time was up, either as a city, or as residents living in the APZ's.
He deserves your support.
Barry Knight
I truly believed that Barry Knight has the right plan for our area. Please join me in supporting Barry Knight for House of Delegates.
It seems to me.....
...that it is very convenient of Terrie Suit to "Cut and Run" (for money) at just the right time so that the new delegate has to be voted on in a special election instead of the normal November election. (For money --what's the other word I am looking for??) Does quiet campaign mean multiple color glossy circulars, several endorsement letters, and phone calls for Mr. Knight. You can't hide where the money is Barry; I knew you when you you had one hog. Why isn't Bonney Bright or Frank Williams running? Is that a recent picture of Tom? Was he the captain supporting us at the city council meetings or the one telling us our time was up? The 'good' Tom I am thinking about has more "bulk". Paul is right about the secrets, but he will not be able to achieve anything without a lot of help from other 'Good Ole' Boys'....oopps, I mean legislators. Regardless, let's all get out and put an x down for one of them.
Elect Barry Knight
Barry Knight's vast experience as a local buisness owner gives him a unique perspective in these tough economic times. Something the other candidates lack. He is also a long term resident of the area who understands the needs of this district. Vote for Barry Knight on Saturday.
Support Barry Knight
I have lived in Chesapeake my entire life. I have worked for the city for 25 years. I will suppoort Barry Knight because he is a person who is truly concerned about Chesapeake, Virginia Beach, Hampton Roads and Virginia. I know that he will add a fresh new face with new ideas to Virginia's General Assembly.
We Need Barry Knight
Although I respect Tom Keeley's years of service to our country, Barry Knight is the right choice for our district. Mr. Keeley cites in the article that be believes that bases are taken for granted. After BRAC, I don't believe any of us take any large employer or base for granted. However, base closures and carrier placements are a federal, not state issue and should not be politicized.
Barry Knight is exactly what our district and the gop needs representing us in Richmond. Barry holds strong fiscally conservative values and a solid common sense approach to budget issues. With the current state budget deficit, we need a representative who will apply these values to asking the tough questions and making the hard choices that are required to get our state back on track. Barry has built a successful business right here in Hampton Roads, and with his experience on the Planning Commission understands the needs of the 81st district.
Barry Knight - House of Delegate
I support Barry Knight. His commitment to preserve the rural heritage of the district. His insight as a businessman and his commitment to protecting farmlands from development is key. These items are very important to me and my family and the services of the district. He will do the best job.
Barry Knight
We support Barry Knight running for the office of delegate. He is a long time small business/farmer for Chesapeake who knows what a hard days work is all about. We feel that he is just what our community needs representing us. We back him 100%
The Gillette Family
November 29th election
There is a $3 billion shortfall in the Virginia budget. Only one candidate has decisive experience with cutting and managing deficits and surpluses.
Barry Knight.
Why?
Because he is the only candidate who creates jobs. He is a small business owner who has and will spend his entire life in southern Virginia Beach. I considered all three candidates, and am grateful for Keeley's and Lanteigne's service, but support Knight because every budget he has cut has been his own. Born into a military family and successful through hardwork and determination, Barry Knight is the representative we need. Vote Knight November 29th!
Support Barry Knight
As a lifelong resident of Chesapeake I am proud to support Barry Knight for the House of Delegates. In these uncertain economic times we need business owners, like Barry, protecting the taxpayers money. He is not a lifelong politician trying to further his career but a man who cares about the ordinary people. I hope everyone in the 81st will come out and support Barry.
I also support Tom Keeley - I live in the 81st District
Many politically influential developers want to drive Oceana out of our city so they can remove a barrier to their personal plans to enrich themselves with more development within the flight paths of Oceana. Oceana is not only important to our local economy, it is important to our nation. Tom Keeley has strong principles rooted in keeping government within its proper limitation and focused on serving the citizens, not fleecing citizens to enrich the state treasury. Our state will benefit from adding the ex-CO of Oceana to our General Assembly. He also opposes all-appointed regional transportation authorities with taxing powers. That is very important to most of us that live here. Please consider voting for Tom this Saturday. The Sheriff is simply another RINO. I don't have anything against Mr. Knight, but Tom would be a better choice.
Barry Knight
Please vote for Barry Knight this weekend!!! He is an honorable man with the highest of integrity. Barry has become a very successful business man by working extremely hard and making difficult fiscal decisions. I know he will carry this same attitude to Richmond and look out for Virginia Beach AND Chesapeake. Barry has everyone's best interests in mind and definitely is a GREAT candidate for the 81st.
Lanteigne Website
Correction: Lanteigne won an award, not aware and his website is http://www.paullanteigne.com/
I support Tom Keeley
As you can tell by my login, I live in APZ1 surrounding NAS Oceana. During the Joint Land Use Study (JLUS) discussions that preceeded the BRAC fiasco, I had the opportunity to speak at length with CAPT Keeley.
He told me that (and I'm paraphrasing) "we have no issues with you folks living in APZ1. You folks are great neighbors. We'd just like to see no further incompatible encroachment." He is an honorable man who will represent us well as a representative.
Please join me in supporting Tom Keeley for the House of Delegates.